Q. What is the law for leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle?
A. It is unlawful to leave a child under 9-years-old unattended in a vehicle for five minutes or longer. If you see this call 911. Authorities that observe a child left unattended under these circumstances may use reasonable means to protect the child or others and remove the child from the motor vehicle. If the person who left the child unattended cannot be located within a reasonable time, the child can be taken into protective custody by authorities without a court order and without the consent of the child's family. This type of violation carries a fine of $237.